Computing apparatus.



No. 665,228 Patented Jan. I, l90l. U. KAHLERT.

COMPUTING APPARATUS. (Application filed Aug. 24, 189?. Renewed June 30, 1800.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

OTTO KAHLERT, OF

'COMPUTING PATENT OFFICE..-

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,228, dated January 1-, 1901.

Application filed August 24,1899. Renewed June 30, 1900. Serial No. 22,219. No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO KAHLERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a computing apparatus for multiplying figures or amounts.

The object of the present improvement is to provide a simple, durable, and efficient apparatus with which sums of any required amount can be multiplied in a convenient and speedy manner and with great accuracy, all as Will hereinafter more fully appear,

and be more particularly pointed out in the claims. I attain such object by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in an opened condition ready for use; Fig. 2, a plan view with portions of two of the outermost drop-plates broken away to illustrate the arrangement of figures on the plate immediately beneath; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section in a closed condition; Fig. 4, a detail longitudinal section in an open condition. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are views of the upper and under faces of one of each series of drop-plates of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the supporting base or frame of the apparatus, formed with the required number of channels or chambers to receive in an individual manner the series of drop-plates 2 2' 2 2 of the present invention.

The partitions 3 between the receiving chambers or channels of the base are transversely scored or lined across to form footlines in effecting a multiplying operation with the present apparatus, and these different foot-lines will be numbered serially to indicate the multiplier numerals, such numbers occurring upon the face of the respective side pieces of the base 1, as shown.

Each series of drop-plates will be pivoted in the base in any suitable manner, preferably by means of an obliquely-arranged series of pivot-rods 4, so as to fit snugly together when the apparatus is in closed condi tion and not in use, and which plates are adapted when the apparatus is opened for use to assume the oblique position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and in order to afford a convenient means for manipulating in an individual manner the series of plates in use the same will be formed of flanged upper or free ends 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

6 is a wide plate hinged to the base and forming a cover for the series of drop-plates when the apparatus is closed and a support for said plates when the apparatus is opened, and to this end said plate will be provided with hinged brace-legs 7 or other like provision for holding the same in its oblique open position in a substantial manner.

8 is a bail hinged to the base 1, with its transverse member resting under the series of drop-plates, as illustrated in the drawings, and adapted to afford a convenient and ready means for moving the entire series of dropplates into the open position when beginning a multiplying operation.

In the present description the term under face of the drop-plates refers to the faces upon which the index numerals appear, while the term upper face of the drop plates refers to the faces upon which appear the successive multiples of the index numerals of the plates, and in this connection it may be mentioned that the upper face of a dropplate is only visible when dropped or in a horizontal position, while the under face of a drop-plate is only visible when the plates are in theiroblique open position, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the present invention both faces of the drop-plates will be numbered or figured.

The upper faces of the series of drop-plates will be divided into nine sections or squares, in which are arranged the columns of figures or numerals, as illustrated to the left in Figs. 5 to let, inclusive, of the drawings, and the columns of figures or numerals upon the upper faces of the drop-plates will be the duplicate of each other in each series of dropplates. Forinstance, the series of four plates numbered 9 in Fig. 1 of the drawings will all be provided alike with the column of numerals shown in Fig. 5, and in like manner the other series of such dropplates will have the columns of numerals illustrated in Figs. 6 to 14 of the drawings.

Each of the above-mentioned sections or squares upon the upper faces of the dropplates will contain the successive multiple of the index numeral of the plate, and as so arranged each plate will have two rows or columns of numerals, the column to the right constituting the units numeral of the multiple, while the column to the left will constitute the tens numeral of the multiple and be the carrying numeral of the plate.

The under face of each drop-plate, as represented to the right in Figs. 5 to 14 of the drawings, will be provided with an index figure or figures to represent the value or denomination of the plate. In the present apparatus, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 to 14C of the drawings, the lower series of plates are marked 1, the next 2, and so on through the series.

Each drop-plate of the present invention represents a certain number, or may represent a fraction or decimal as well when so desired, and its value in units, tens, &c., is determined by the column in which it is located. For example, in the construction shown in the accompanying drawings as illustrative of the present invention the extreme column to the rightis the units-column, the next column to the left the tens-column, and so on with the other succeeding series of drop-plates.

In the practical use of the present apparatus such drop-plates as represent the figures of the multiplicand are dropped down into the supporting-base. The multipliercolumn on the main base afiords the figure representing the desired multiplier and the foot-line for indicating the series of multiplicand numbers required in effecting the particular sum, which added transversely will give the correct product. Such transverse adding will be performed by beginning with the extreme right plate and accept the lower or unit of such plate as the unit of the product. Then add the upper or tens figure of the same dropplate to the next adjacent plate and continue in like manner until all the plates have been so added to afford the desired product. hen there are no upper or tens figures to carry to the next column, the lower or units figure of the next adjacent plate becomes the next figure of the product. In multiplying with the present apparatus the following directions are to be observed: first, have all the plates in their oblique potion; second, drop such plates as will represent and form the figures in the multiplicand; third, add transversely figures shown on plates appearing opposite figure representing the units figure of the multiplier and set down the result; fourth, continue in like manner with tens, hundreds, &c., setting down Accept numeral unit 2 as the units numeral of the product. Add upper numeral 4 to lower numeral 8 of next plate 12, and the numeral 2 becomes tens numeral of the product. The one tens numeral over is added to upper numeral 4 of same plate 5, which in turn is added to the lower numeral 4 of next drop-plate, which 9 becomes the hundreds numeral of the product. The upper numeral 5 of this lastuneutioned dropplate added to the lower numeral lof the next adjacent drop-plate gives 9, which be comes the thousands numeral of the product. The upper numeral 5 of this last-mentioned plate added to the lower numeral 6 of the next adjacent drop-plate gives 11, and being the last drop-plate becomes the remaining numerals of the product, or 119,922.

Then the multiplier consists of more than one numeral, the separate results must be set down and afterward added to obtain a total or final product, the last of such separate products being placed one space farther to the left of the first product in adding the same to attain the final product.

When the upper numeral of a drop-plate added to the lower numeral of the next dropplate results in ten or more, the units figure thereof is to be placed in the product and increase the upper numeral of the plate by one.

While in the drawings I have shown a somewhat small and elementary apparatus adapted for popular use, it is within the province of my present invention to extend the range thereof by the addition of any desired number of series of the drop-plates and the arranging of the same to multiply fractions and decimals in addition to whole numbers.

Having thus fully described my said invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a multiplying apparatus, the combination of a supporting-base provided with a column of multiplier numerals, and a multiple series of drop-plates provided with columns of multiplicand numerals,substantially as set forth.

2. In a multiplying apparatus, the combination of a supporting-base provided with a column of multiplier numerals, and a multiple series of drop-plates provided with columns of multiplicand numerals, on one face, and index numerals on the opposite face, substantially as set forth.

too

3. In a multiplying apperatus, the combination of a supportingbase provided with a column of multiplier numerals, and a multipleseries of drop-plates hinged at one end to the base and provided with columns of multiplicand nu merals,substantially as set forth.

4. In a multiplying apparatus, the combination of a supporting-base provided with a column of multiplier numerals, and a multiple series of drop-plates hinged at one end to the base and provided with columns of multiplicand numerals on one face, and index numerals on the opposite face, substantially as set forth.

5. In a multiplying apparatus, the combination of a supporting-base provided with a column of multiplier numerals, and a multiple series of drop-plates hinged at one end to the base by an oblique row of pivot-pins, and provided with columns of multiplicand numerals, substantially as set forth.

6. In a multiplying apparatus, the combination of a supporting-base provided With a column of multiplier numerals, and a multiple series of drop-plates hinged at one end to the base by an oblique roW of pivotpins, and provided with columns of multiplicand numerals on one face and index numerals on the opposite face, substantially as set forth.

7. In a multiplying apparatus as herein described, the combination of a supporting-base and a multiple series of drop-plates pivoted thereto, and a bail hinged to the base with its transverse rail adapted to engage beneath the multiple series of drop-plates, substantially as set forth.

8. In a multiplying apparatus as herein described, the combination of a supporting-base and a multiple series of drop-plates pivoted thereto, and a hinged plate adapted to form a cover for the apparatus When closed, and a support for the drop-plates when opened, sub stantially as set forth.

9. In a multiplying apparatus, as herein described, the combination of a support-ingbase and a multiple series of drop-plates pivoted thereto, and provided with flanged ends, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof witness my hand this 21st day of August, 1899.

OTTO KAHLERT.

In presence of ROBERT BURNS, JAMES LAVALLIN. 

